John is a leading lawyer specialising in leveraged and acquisition finance, M&A finance, fund finance and general corporate finance. He has more than 25 years’ experience in representing private equity funds, corporate borrowers, banks, ASX-listed and privately owned credit funds, infrastructure funds and superannuation funds across the full spectrum of debt, from the senior debt and unitranche market to the TLB market.
John advises borrowers and lenders across a wide range of finance transactions including senior bank debt, syndicated debt, bilateral loans, subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, mezzanine holdco debt, term loan Bs, unitranche loans, equity bridge facilities, capital call facilities, NAV facilities and shareholder loans. He represents domestic and international clients across all the main industry sectors.
John is a member of the Law Society of NSW and of the Australian Investment Council. He is also on the Editorial Board of LexisNexis’ Australian Banking and Finance Law Bulletin.
Key deals
Warburg Pincus
Advised Warburg Pincus on the A$250 million financing for its proposed acquisition of UniLodge, which was structured as a unitranche facility with a super senior revolver. UniLodge is the largest living sector platform in Australia and New Zealand, specialising in managing purpose-built student accommodation and build-to-rent assets.
Macquarie
Advised Macquarie Asset Management and Macquarie Korea on the provision of debt facilities to fund the acquisition of Linen Services Australia from Adamantem and Spotless Services. The debt package included acquisition, capital expenditure and working capital facilities and, subsequently, a mezzanine holdco facility.
MLAUBs to Foxtel
Advised the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Underwriters and Bookrunners in respect of A$1.8 billion of syndicated facilities provided to Foxtel, Australia’s leading provider of subscription television and sports broadcasting services, as part of the acquisition by DAZN.
Lenders to Crescent Capital Partners
Advised the lenders on A$300 million dividend recapitalisation, expansion and working capital facilities for Crescent Capital’s PRP Radiology Diagnostic Imaging Group. Advised the lenders on the refinancing, recapitalisation and acquisition financing package for Bremick, Australia and New Zealand's leading fastener manufacturer owned by Crescent Capital Partners, including supporting the bolt-on acquisition of ECKO Fastening Systems in New Zealand. Also advised the lenders to Crescent Capital Partners on its acquisition of AIM listed Strix’s Billi tap business.
MLAs to Bain Capital
Advised the MLAs on debt facilities to Bain Capital to fund the take-private acquisition of aged care operator Estia Health. Advised MLAUBs on debt facilities provided to National Dental Care to fund the take-private bid for Pacific Smiles Group.
Mercury Capital
Advised Mercury Capital on senior debt facilities for investments and acquisitions including ResourceCo, Re.Group and PolyTrade.
Lenders to St John of God Health Care
Advised the lenders on senior secured facilities for St John of God Health Care’s bid for the Gold Coast Private Hospital, a premium private hospital within the Healthscope portfolio from Healthscope’s receivership-driven asset sale process.
Next Capital
Advised Next Capital on senior debt facilities for the acquisition of various portfolio companies including Compare Club, Country Care, Noisette, TM Insight, JUCY Car Rental, Funlab, Allied Health, iseek data centres, Enviropacific Services, Eptec Marine, Scentia, Probe West and on corporate finance facilities and subsequent IPO facilities for Lynch Flowers and Alloggio.